Sled



C. Z. MILLER April 18, 1933.

SLED

Filed Jan. 19, 1931 Y (Ittornegs Patented Apr. 18, 1933 V ciAnLEs z.MILLER, or ronr sco'rr, xANsAs PATENT oFF''cE Application fil ed January19, 1931. Serial No. 509,792. V

is that in which the runners are arranged to be simultaneou'sly flexedlaterally at their forward ends. While this arrangement has o in generalserved to steer the sled sati'sfactorily, it has bfeenfound that whensharp turns are made there is atendency for the sled to overturn or toskid. Moreover, inorder that such runners be readily flexed laterally itis necessary that they be of light Construction. V

`An object of provide a sled which may be easily steered by the user7smerely shifting his weight to one side or the other of the sleddepending upon in which direction it is desired that thel sled bedirected, the arrangement being such that when steering is thusefi'ected the sled top or seat will be inclined relatively to thefgroundand a banked effectV thus provided which tends to decrease the danger ofskidding or upsetting. More specific objects will become apparent from areading of the following description, the a'pp'ended Vclaims and theseveral views of the drawing'in which Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa sled embodying the invention; V Figure 2 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-.3of Figure 2 and showing the runners in normal position ,and Figure 4 isa view similar to Figure 3, but V.showing the relative positions of therunners when the sled is vbeing steered to one side: V In'the drawingwhich illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, a sled'generally designated A is shown as compr-ising a frame 1, a centrallydisposedrunner 2, and spaced side runners 3, 3 located on opposite sidesof the central runner 2. V The sled frame includes angle section sidemembers 4, 4, a rear transverse member 5, a front Vtransverse member l6,and an intermediate transverse member 7, the connections bethe presentinvention is to4 to the transverse members 5 and 7 and Withrh a handgrasp or foot rest 9 secured to the front end of the sled frame. 1

The centrally disposed runner 2 isrigdlyV connected to the frame at therear and at an kintermedia'te point by means of fiXed struts 10 g r and11 and is directly connected at its forw' ward end, as 'at 12, to thefront transverse frame'member 6. Each side runner 3 isyieldably'connected to the frame and'is arranged for depressiblemovement 'toward the frame f member when the user of the sledconcentrates 385 his-weight Vat one sideor the other thereof asV will belhereinafter explained;

The" connections between each side vrun- V ner and the frame include aplurality of struts13 each pvotedas at 14 to thevframe '70 and as at 15to the associated side runner 3. Two'diagonally disposed springs 16 areconnected between eachl runner 3 and the frame, each spring beingconnected toutheh runner as at 17 and being connected to them` frame bybeing threaded through any one of a groupof three'holes 18-18-18 formedin'the side'frame member 4, the holes 18 of each group beinglongitudinally spaced.A

in order to provide for the ladjustable ten-180 sioning of the springs.The springs serve to constantly urge the side runners forwardly relativeto the-sled frame and the movement of each runner is limited by the en-kgagement of a pin 19 at the upturned forward end'of the runner with thefront end of a slot 20 formed in the associated side frame member 4. Thefront end of the slot is preferably so located that when the 'pin'is'held inengagement therewith by the action of the springs 16 the struts13 will be in vertical position.

i When weight is applied above either of the side runners the frame willtend to move toward the runner, or Vice versa the 'runner relativelybodily toward the frame, thus producing, when the sled is in motion, arearwardlyswinging movement of the struts 13 about their pivots 14 and aresulting relative depressing of the side runner, or n ward the rightwhich produces a relativeV collapsing movement between the runner andthe frame in the manner described above.v 'This servesV toV tilt thesled. .body 'as shown 'in Figure 4 to cause the sled to turn to theright.4 When the desired turn has been com- 65.two spaced independentlymovable runners other words vertical collapsing movement between theside runner and the frame. The postion of the right hand side runnerafter weight has been concentrated above said runner is shown in Figure4 and alsd in dotted lines in Figure 2. The collapsing movement of therunner just described is limited by the engagement of the pin 19 withthe rear end of the slot 20.

In use, when it is desired that the sled be. steered in either'directiom'for instance to the right, the user shifts his weight topletedthe user shifts-his weight back over the central runner. after which thesled will proceed in a straight line; Through the provision Vof thespaced holes 18., by means of which the springs 16 may be adjustably.tensioned. the steering characteristics of the sled may be altered asdesired to adapt the sled for use-by persons of different weights.

I have found that the best results may be obtained if'the forwardportion of the centrally fixed runner proiects somewhat .below the planecontaining the two side runners. Accordinglv-I prefer to so connect thecentral runner to the frame that'its rear end will lie in the same planeas that in which the-side runners lie, but so that its for- Ward endwillproject slightly below the plane of the side runners as shown inFig- ,ure 2.

From the foregoing it will be'apparent Vthat I have provided a sledwhich may be very easily steered, andv since no lateral fleX- ing of therunners takes place the latter may be of stifl', rugged construction.The sled may be easily steered through the simple expedient ofslightlyshifting the userls weight from one side to the other and when aturn is made will be tilted in such a way as to produce'a'desirablebanked effect, thus -minimizing the danger of skidding or-overturning`when a, sharp turn is made.

I claim:

1. In a sled, the combination of aframe; two runners extending along andunder the side edges thereof; and separate yieldable means connectingthe respective 'runners to the frame and normally maintaining therunners inpredetermined spacedrelation with respect to the frame, theconnections of 'each 'runner V being yieldable independently of movementof the other runner upon the concentration of w-eght above sadfirst-named runner to permit relatve collapsmg move- -ment of the frameand runner to thus effect steering of the sled. i

2. In a sled, he combination ofa frame;

extending under the frame; and separate and independently operableyieldable connecting means between each runner and the frame, theconnecting means for each runner includng a substantially vertical rigidstrut pivoted at its opposite ends to the frame and to the runnerrespectively, resilient means anchored in the frame .and constantlyurging the associated runner in one direction into ground engagingpostion, and a stop for vlimitingmovement of the runner in saiddirection, said resilient means being yieldable "upon the application ofweight above said runner toopermit movement of the runner in the otherdirection and collapsing of the runnerrelative to the frame. V

3. In asled, the combination of a frame;

.a centrally disposed runner rigidly connected to the frame; twosiderunners respectively1 disposed on opposite sides of the centrally?disposed runner; and yieldable connections between each side runner andthe frame in- -cluding a plurality of struts pivoted at theiroppositeends to the frame andrunners re- Vspectively, and resilientmeans constantlyf?o being disposed in said horizontal planeV and :1105the front end of said central runner extending below the plane of thedepressiblel runners. V

5. In a sled, the combination of aframe; a. centrally-disposed runnerrigidly connected Vthereto;two side runners respectively disposed onopposite sides of the central runner; a plurality of struts pivotallyconnected between ea h side runner and the frame; sprng means nterposedbetween the runners and' the frame for urging the runners in onedirection longitudinally of the frame; and vstop means for so limitingthe movement of the runner in said direction as to normally maintain therunner in postion with the associated struts disposed vertically, andfor also limiting movement of .the runner in the opposite -V direction.

.6. In a sled, the combination of a frame; a centrally disposed runnerrigidly connected thereto; two side runners respectively disposed onopposite sides of the central'runner; a plurality of struts pivotallyconnected between each side runner and the frame adjustably. tensionedspring means interposed`` between the funners and the frame for urgingthe runner in one direction longitudinally of the frame; and stop meansfor so limiting v the movement of the runner in said direction as tonormally vmaintatin the runner in posi- 'tio With the associated st'utsdisposed ver- Vtcally, and for also limiting movement of the runner inthe opposite direction.

In testinony Whereof, kI have hereunto subscribed my name.V

oHARLEs z. MILLER( V

